HC Deb 12 July 1948 vol 453 cc837-8
52. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many pedigree cattle have been sold to other countries in the last six months; and to which countries have they actually been sent.

Mr. T. Williams

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that what has happened in this matter will not unduly deplete our herds of pedigree cattle in this country?

Mr. Williams

I do not think we have any need to be apprehensive, since we still have a very large number of high quality pedigree cattle. We can well afford to export them as well as keep them at home.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Will the figures which the right hon. Gentleman will give us be the United Kingdom figures or those for England and Wales only?

Mr. Williams

United Kingdom.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Why?

The following is the reply:

I have not this information in the exact form asked for by my hon. Friend, but the statements below give the number of pedigree cattle for which health certificates were issued by my Department during the last six months, and the numbers of cattle for which the issue of export licences was approved. All countries do not require a health certificate and as export licences do not have to be used immediately they are issued, the second statement is not an exact record of the numbers of animals actually exported within the period specified. The figures for export licences do not distinguish between pedigree and non-pedigree animals, but the number of non-pedigree cattle exported is negligible.

Pedigree cattle for which health certificates were issued January-June, 1948
Destination Numbers
Argentina 185
Australia 29
Brazil 6
Canada 223
Denmark 3
Egypt 7
Eire 151
France 3
Jamaica 2
Kenya 98
Madeira 1
South Africa 91
South West Africa 8
Southern Rhodesia (via S. Africa) 10
Uruguay 24
United States of America (via Canada) 5
Total 846